Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has written to care executives to negotiate with care workers to avert strike action following the rejection of a pay deal.

The dispute involves around 200 carers at Silverline Care’s Balliestone Care Home, Cardonald Care Home and Stobhill Care Homes which operate under a management contract with Minster Care.

Mr Yousaf wrote: “Social care workers provide a vital service. Their work providing personal care and social support to residents is essential to the running of care homes that are rooted in compassion.

“My own relationship with trade unions has been positive and constructive. Even where there have been disagreements, my approach has been to always continue constructive dialogue to try and find a solution. I hope you can offer reassurances that this will be your approach going forward.”

Kirsty Nimmo, GMB Scotland organiser, said the new management of the homes was attempting to drive down pay and conditions, slash overtime pay and renege on previous pay offers.

A spokesperson for Silverline said: “The welfare of residents is paramount and contingency measures are in place to ensure the continuation of quality care at each of the homes in the event of any strike action.

“The previous management team attempted, without success, to engage with the GMB to agree matters in relation to staff wages prior to our involvement, including the proposal to alter overtime pay arrangements.

“We met the GMB at the offices of ACAS in July and explained that, while we wanted all care teams to be paid more, the trading situation of the homes means this is impossible and the alternative is that the company goes into insolvency.”

Silverline said it had increased the lowest rate for care staff from £10.50 to £10.90 from 1 April 2023 in line with the requirements of the National Care Home Contract and representing 48p per hour more than the National Living Wage.

It said its proposal for overtime at an additional £1 per hour was the same as previous management and there was no contractual obligation for staff to work overtime, or to be paid overtime at enhanced rates. 

Silverline added: “GMB representatives at the meeting failed to respect or accept our explanations of the financial situation and merely repeated demands for a minimum rate of £15 per hour, way in excess of the National Contract requirements. We therefore parted having not reached agreement.

“We welcome the intervention of the First Minister and a number of MSPs and look forward to receiving any assistance they can offer. We have pointed out that the pay rates we have implemented are directly linked to what operators receive in fee rates.

“This rate is set out in the National Care Home Contract – if it is no longer deemed appropriate then the Scottish government has the power to increase fees to operators and this will enable staff to be paid more.”